Full Figured: Carl Weber Presents [Paperback]

Brenda Hampton (Author), La Jill Hunt (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Urban Books (July 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 160162218X
• ISBN-13: 978-1601622181
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #61,645 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Decisions, July 18, 2010

By 

OOSA Online Book Club "O.O.S.A. Gets It Read!" (World Wide Web, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Full Figured: Carl Weber Presents (Paperback)

"Full Figured: Plus Size Divas" is what appears to be the first of a series of books in which the heroines are full-figured women. For that, I am hopeful and appreciative as too many books today aren't practical as the average American woman is a size 12, but according to some reports now a 14. So with the first of more to come, Carl Weber went with two authors with resumes guaranteed to bring the drama.

Brenda Hampton's `Who Ya Wit' features Desa Rae Jenkins. At forty and recently divorced, Desa Rae is getting accustomed to life as a working divorcee and parent of an almost grown son. Her world is shook when she meets a 24-year-old man/child, Roc. Tall, dark and delicious, Roc awakens in Desa what she's been missing with his thug passion. But he also introduces her to a darker world she doesn't want to know. Does this May-December romance stand a chance?

LaJill Hunt's `Seven Year Itch' according to the synopsis was supposed to be about Etienne and Major (and Vaughn); however, the characters in the story were Avery and Duke (and Kurt). C'mon now, Urban Books! Really? Anywho...Duke used to run the very streets where he and Avery now reside. A good girl on the right track, Avery made Duke give up his street ways and go legit if he wanted to be with her. And he did. Now, seven years later, as Avery is still moving upward with higher education and a promising career, Duke seems to be complacent with where they are. Moving in different directions, has their relationship run its course?

What makes an anthology good? For me, first, I would say a central theme that runs through all the stories. Though this is presented with a full-figured theme, that fact seems to either have gotten lost under other themes and drama or was a second thought. Yes, both authors featured plus size divas, but it was not as prominent or key to the plot as I would have liked. This book could have easily, and probably more appropriately, been billed as being about relationships where opposites attract.

Disappointingly, "Full Figured" is not what I expected or hoped for. I have read better by both authors. One story had too many variables, while the other didn't come full circle, leaving this reader with questions about what wasn't addressed and why. I could not connect with the characters of one story, neither admiring nor pitying them, while I didn't learn enough about characters in the other. One story had too much drama, while the other may have not had enough.

Neither story is a bad read, but they are nothing fresh or new. I don't see myself recommending this to others. As I stated before, I've read better by both authors and look forward to each of their own next full-length novels.

Kudos to Urban Books for taking a step to practicality, but tighten up the editing (coworkers), make sure the stories are more cohesive and get some better covers.

Reviewed by: Toni

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars full figured Diva, July 23, 2010

By 

TDMG "Haze Reader" (Westchester, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Full Figured: Carl Weber Presents (Paperback)

I just loved this book, but Brenda Hampton story really sold me. This book was off the hook! Not to tell it all, but just imagine, the husband that you have been faithful to for years just up's and divorces you. Dez being that strong woman learns to deal with it as she moves on. Then suddenly she meets Roc tall, fine, with lots of swagger, although younger than Dez can still carry his own. Oh, what's a woman to do and don't let me forget how he pursues her, not the other way around. Not to mention their sex life was um um good, now be real, if this were you, what would you do :) Reading this book I felt as if I was watching them on a screen, everything about the book was so real, current and up to date, that you can relate. But seriously, if you want to read about having some spice added to your life, here it is. Now does Dez and Roc have a chance with their new found relationship, despite the trials, oppositions and just plain haters, get the book to find out. This book is definitely a keeper, so don't loan this one out, you might not get it back. Brenda, I am waiting on you sister woman for part two or a full version of this book. Until then, continue to do your thing.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid Read, May 17, 2011

By 

Sonya B. (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Full Figured: Carl Weber Presents (Paperback)

Overall, Full Figured was a solid read. I thoroughly enjoyed Brenda Hampton's Who Ya Wit. Not only is Desa Rae a plus-size diva but also a cougar as she finds herself between the sheets with Roc, a young and sexy twenty-four year old. While Who Ya Wit offers drama and steamy sex scenes, La Jill Hunt's Seven Year Itch is rather tame in comparison, less captivating and has its fair share of editing issues. Moreover, I do have to agree with previous reviews that the book treated the fact that the two central characters were plus-size as an afterthought. I will give Full Figured 2 a chance and also recommend Hot -N- Heavy by G. A. Peach for those of you looking for more storylines featuring plus-size heroines (the author intertwines the characters weight struggles amongst all the craziness and drama in their lives...it's a pretty good read!).